Picture-frame



(No Model.)

W. O. TIDBALL.

PICTURE FRAME.

No. 435,161. Patented Aug. 26, 1890.

made from the beginning.

. UNITED STATES \VALTON O.

PATENT OEEICE.

TIDBALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

PICTURE-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,161, dated August 26, 1890.

Application filed July 17, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, WALTON O. TIDBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Picture-Frame, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an adjustable and separable metallic picture-frame-that is, it consists of four pieces made up of sheet and wire metal, which are intended to be joined together so as to form the four sides of a picture frame. hen not in use or during transportation, 850., it may be taken apartthat is, each side separated from its fellows so that the Whole may be packed away in a small space. Each side is also made to lengthen out, by which means the frame as a whole is capable of being adjusted to receive pictures ofdifferent sizes and shapes within certain limits. This frame is suitable for all kinds of paper pictures, such as lithographs, steel and wood engravings, water-colors, etchings, &c. Altogether it forms a light, convenient, and artistic arrangement for hanging pictures. For the body of the frame I find brass the most suitable material, while for the ornamental parts various metals or plated ones may be used, thus securing variety in style and effect.

For the details of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear View of one-half the frame. Fig. 2 is a front View of one-half the frame. Fig. 3 is a view of the blank from which the side pieces are formed. Fig. 4 is a view of the blank from which the corner-pieces are formed. Fig. 5 is a sectional View (four times enlarged) of the above-mentioned side pieces and ends of corner-pieces as fitted for use.

The details of its construction will be best understood by describing how the frame is Vith this end in view a piece of thin sheet metal is cut out, of the shape and size shown by Fig. 3. The part to the left of the dotted line A A is rolled over until the edge almost touches,, as shown in section at N, Fig. 5. The same is. done with reference to the corner-pieces, as

Serial No. 317,806. (No model.)

shown by Fig. 4, the part outside of the dotted line G H I being rolled over, so as to form the above-men tioned open-tube arrangement. Returning to Fig. 3, the part to the right of the dotted line l3 B is folded upon itself (in the rear) in the manner shown in section at O, Fig. 5. The edge is soldered fast at point 1. This ,fiat'tube arrangement (for want of a betterterm Icall it so) isin therearof the frame, and the object of itis to furnish a means of lengthening out the sides of the frame, as shown in detail by Fig. 1. The Wire M is bent upon itself at the middle, and the loop thus formed inserted into the flat tube, as indicated by the dotted lines. A similar wire is inserted in the other end of the flat tube, the loops meeting at the center of the same. The ends of these Wires project some distance beyond the tube and are solderedinto blocks made fast to the sheet-metal corner-pieces, as shown at 2 and 3. The wires are still further secured to the corner-pieces by a portion of the latter, which folds over them, forming, in fact, a short-tube arrangement similar to the sides, as shown at 4 and 5, and in projection by 6 and 7, Fig. 4. This looped Wire should fit snugly in the fiat tube arrangement of the sides, in which case it will move in the same with a uniform steady friction. By means of this device the corner-pieces may be extended out from the sides and held quite firmly at any desired point. -The limit of this extension is fixed by the small pin J, projecting into the flat tube near its end. The loop in the wire prevents its being drawn out beyond this point.

The sides D and F can be attached to or separated from the other two sides at pleasure. This is accomplished simply by inserting the ends of the friction wire into the short tube arrangement of the corner-pieces, as shown at 5, Fig. l. The extreme ends of the wire are bent short upon themselves, so as to form a shoulder which catches on the edges of the tube. To separate the sides from each other it is only necessary to press these two shoulders toward each other, when they may be readily drawn out through the short fiat tube. \Vhen a picture is inserted, it is intended that the edges of the same should extend into and be covered by the circular tube forming the outside edge of the frame. To stretch and hold the picture securely in place the corners of the frame are provided with spring-clamps, as shown at K, Fig. 2. These are secured to the frame in the rear by belng soldered or screwed to the metal blocks already mentioned as holding the ends of the friction-wire. (Vide 2 and 3, Fig. 1.) The shape and size of the spring-clamp may be variedthat is, it may consistofa single Wire at each corner, or two wires, as here represented, or it may be made of strap metal. The essential feature is an ornamental springclamp attached to the blockin the rear, curv-V ing over in front and pressing with considerable force upon the face of the sheet-metal corner-piece. upon the picture, may be turned up and furnished with an ornamentalattachment. Another such may be placed directly on or over the corners of the frame; also, for further ornamentation, the ends of the circular tubes are plugged up with wood or metal attach The front end, where it presses ments, as shown by Fig. 2. These plugs must be flat on the under side to allow the edge of the picture to pass beneath them. To insert a picture the two sides of the frame having the corner-pieces attached are adjusted to fit opposite sides of the picture and the latter inserted in its proper place. The other two sides are then attached and the Whole pulled apart until the paper is Well stretched.

The foregoing beinga full and accurate description of my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an adjustable metallic picture-frame having four separable sides, the combination of the double-tubed side piece 0, the extension friction-loop M, and corner-piece L, the latter having the spring-clamp K attached in the rear to the block 2, all substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

VALTON O. TIDBALL.

\Vitnesses:

J OH N A. DUNN, CHARLES MONTELIN. 

